Continuing life for lives

August 13 is World Organ Donation Day. This is an opportunity for the whole society to express gratitude to those who have voluntarily donated a part of their body after death to continue the life of people with terminal illnesses.

More than a year after Ms. Hoai Thuong, in Nam Binh ward ( Ninh Binh city) passed away due to a serious illness, we had the opportunity to return to visit her family on a day in mid-August, to join the officials of the Provincial Red Cross Society in burning incense to express gratitude for the noble gesture that Ms. Hoai Thuong left for life.

Ms. Thuong's two children are growing up, the eldest son has passed the entrance exam to Thai Binh Medical University, and the second daughter is in 7th grade, very independent, obedient and good at studying. Her husband has also been given the opportunity to work near home to take care of their daughter. Family members have had to gradually adapt to life without the care of their hard-working wife and mother.

Holding back his emotions, Mr. Nguyen Ngoc Anh, Ms. Hoai Thuong's husband, said: The day my wife went for surgery at Viet Duc Friendship Hospital, my wife was still full of optimism and encouraged the family not to worry too much. But she could not survive the surgery. My wife passed away just over a month after discovering she had a brain tumor. This was a huge shock to the whole family, especially the two young children.

"When the doctors informed Thuong of her condition, my wife's sister had a wish to help Thuong carry out the noble act of organ donation to save patients who were near death. Although it was short, my wife lived a full and beautiful life. A part of my wife's body still lives to continue writing dreams for other lives. That is a bit of consolation for this great loss of the family" - Mr. Ngoc Anh was moved.

Ms. Nguyen Thi Hai in Nam Thanh ward (Ninh Binh city) is the fourth daughter of Mr. Nguyen Duc Mui, who donated his corneas before passing away exactly 1 year ago. Proudly telling her late father, Ms. Hai said: When he was alive, my father always guided us to do positive things for the community. My father was a former officer of the city's Red Cross Society, so he also had the opportunity to do many good deeds. He wrote an application to donate his corneas in 2008. His wish before he passed away was fully realized by his mother and us. Thinking about my father, I am filled with emotion and pride. My father lived a gentle life, cultivating many seeds of goodness, and when he passed away, it was also peaceful and meaningful.

The noble deeds of Ms. Hoai Thuong's family and Mr. Nguyen Duc Mui... not only lit up life and opened up a new life for many people with serious illnesses through the act of organ and tissue donation, but also created a widespread ripple effect, lit the fire of compassion, and contributed to changing the community's awareness of organ and tissue donation.

Those who continue life for life — Ms. To Thi Tham (Khanh Thuy commune, Yen Khanh district) regained her sight thanks to donated corneas.

Looking back over the past years, the communication and mobilization work for people to donate tissues and organs in Ninh Binh province has been carried out with focus and key points, creating a positive change in the awareness of the majority of people. In 2007, Ms. Nguyen Thi Hoa in Con Thoi commune, Kim Son district volunteered to donate her cornea. This was the first case in the province as well as in Vietnam of voluntary cornea donation, a turning point opening up the future for patients waiting for corneal transplants.

According to data from the Provincial Red Cross, in the first 6 months of 2023, 101 people registered to donate tissues and organs, bringing the total number of people registered to donate tissues and organs to this point in the province to over 15,200 people. Of these, 3 people donated tissues and organs to save dozens of terminally ill people who were on the verge of death; 503 people donated corneas, bringing a precious source of light to people with corneal diseases.

Mr. Bui Trong Ky, Chairman of the Provincial Red Cross Society, said: The noble acts of organ and tissue donors and their relatives have left great emotions for those who do humanitarian work like us. In reality, although many people understand very well that organ and tissue donation is an act of saving lives, it is not easy to do because there are many barriers, concepts from family, clan and spiritual thoughts that must "die intact" are deeply ingrained in the subconscious. Organ and tissue donation must be based on the voluntary participation of not only the donor himself but also his relatives. Therefore, the Association's staff must propagate and mobilize according to the motto "slow and steady wins the race".

We also clearly identify that mobilizing tissue and organ donation after death is a difficult activity. In addition to solid knowledge of the Law on Donation, Collection, and Transplantation of Human Tissues and Organs and Donation and Collection of Cadavers, those who carry out propaganda need to have good communication and behavioral skills. Therefore, in the coming time, we will continue to organize training on mobilizing registration for tissue, organ, and body donation for grassroots Association officials, especially those units that do not have corneal donors in the province; at the same time, launch a campaign for the entire Association to register for tissue and organ donation, creating a ripple effect to all classes of people... From there, contributing to changing people's awareness of tissue and organ donation to save lives.

Along with propaganda activities, in the coming time, the Provincial Red Cross will continue to coordinate with the National Organ and Tissue Transplant Coordination Center and the Central Eye Institute to annually organize a ceremony to honor those who have volunteered to donate organs and tissues, thereby creating a ripple effect to all classes of people, so that more fairy tales can be written in everyday life.

Dao Hang - Minh Quang

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